D. Loraine Kennedy
D. Loraine Kennedy
D. Loraine Kennedy

Obituary of D. Loraine Kennedy

Loraine (just one "r") was born in the 1905 Olson homestead near Selby SD on April 28, 1924; the second of six children born to Ruth Thorstenson and John Olson.

She is best described as a Monarch butterfly. She loved orange, was flamboyant, flighty & flirty. Picture from her "Celebration" in August 2018. Jesus whispered that her everlasting party lights were glowing on April 13, 2019; and off she flew, as always, leaving a whirlwind behind her.

Graduated from Buffalo High in SD and moved to Mpls to live with her sister, Evelyn. Night classes at Mpls Business School & precious MacPhail voice lessons. Worked at Dayton's, Shell Oil and the Mpls School Board of Education as a statistician.

Married Robert Lloyd Kennedy, who served for three years with the 34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division in WWII. Bob graduated from UofMN in Architecture IT and worked with Close & Close until an opportunity in Grand Forks ND for a partnership with DeRemer, Harrie and Kennedy. They both contributed to their community from 1954-1998.

They moved to Edina a year after the flood of 1997. They enjoyed their MN life. Bob died of cancer in 2002.

Loraine's "claim to fame" was taking third place in the 1979 National Beef Cook-Off when Julia Child was a judge. Worked as the KNOX Radio Women's Director and program personality with Glen Olson from 1965-1969.

Mom was recognized for her years of volunteering by Beta Sigma Phi as 1990 Grand Forks' Woman of the Year.

She shared her soprano voice with schools and churches from a young age. Loraine's love of music: ND Metropolitan Opera auditions as Director and Treasurer for decades, Thursday Music Club and GF Symphony. She could still hit 'High C' with her caregivers a month ago.

Community: PEO, Homemakers' Club in local and state offices and co-ran many bus tours for the members. Red Cross disaster trained and served in CA, FL and LA. Master Gardener and their yard was toured. She planted many sites. Valley Thrift Shoppe Volunteer Coordinator for decades. PTA and Brownie Leader for her children.

Knitted afghans, quilts out of old ties, ceramics, pottery at UND, yoga, started swimming lessons at age 50, square dancing, food co-op, grew sprouts, chokecherry jellies & dandelion wine she was either "cutting edge" or "homestead."

In Edina Mom worked in the gardens at their condo, with Edina Garden Club, Calvary Lutheran Church and VEAP.

Bestemör is survived by her four children and many "grands."

Kathleen (Greg) Stattine; grandchildren Judd (Christina) Stattine and Kelsey (Joel) Huseby; great-grandchildren Olivia, Thomas and Sophia Stattine; Julia, Halle, Jacob and Kaia Huseby.

Robb (Treva) Kennedy; grandchildren Lance (Tracy) Kennedy and Erika Kennedy, great-grandchildren Brittney, Logan, Katy and Grace Kennedy; Matlyn Christensen, Macy Woodrow, great-great granddaughter Jerzie Eastin. Mother to Lance and Erika-Susan St John.

Karen (Dan) Hocking; grandchildren Caitlin (Aaron) Newman and Seth (Leah) Hocking; great-grandchildren Natalin, Aurora, Elysia Newman; Henry Hocking.

Kristy (Paul) Matthiesen; grandson Ian Matthiesen.

Loraine's surviving siblings, John (Carol) Olson of CO and Ruth Marie Melby Ratzloff of ND are so appreciated for staying in contact. Her sisters, Evelyn Hansen (OK) and Jewell Pak (FL) did so prior to their deaths.

Heartfelt thanks for the excellent and caring treatment Mom and our family received from the MN Masonic Home and Grace Hospice. Words cannot express!

Mom was happiest learning new things and meeting friends. She had a vast network of friends and loved shocking all of them.

She would now say, "I had a good run!"

No flowers or memorials, please. Loraine is singing, "YooHoo! Let's catch that adventure!"

A family service and interment will be held next spring at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington DC.

** ADDITIONS:

If you spoke a language other than English, she would insist that you write the numbers of one to ten in that language, then write it phonetically and practice it with her until she "got" it.  Then she used all those languages for counting while she did her exercises.

 

 

A Memorial Tree was planted for D. Loraine
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cremation Society Of Minnesota | Edina